John 1:35-51 Follow Him

John 1:35-51

Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples.

And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!”

The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi” which is to say, when translated, Teacher, “where are You staying?”

He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day now it was about the tenth hour.

One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.

He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” which is translated, the Christ.

And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” which is translated, A Stone.

The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.”

Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.

Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!”

Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”

Nathanael answered and said to Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”

Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”

And He said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

These men who had little education knew Jesus when they saw Him. They didn't just spend the day with Him and go home at night, they left their job, walked away from their homes and spent the next three years day and night with Jesus. 

That's what Jesus wants us to do. He doesn't expect us to leave our job or walk away from our homes. He wants us to leave our old ways, our old life behind and follow Him. He wants us to give up our sins and repent. He wants us to stop living for ourselves and focusing on our own pleasure and start focusing on His will in our lives. When we let go of trying to control our lives and release control to God, amazing things happen. 

Like volunteering at a homeless shelter and it becoming a full time job when I wasn't even looking for work. 

Like deciding to move back to my home state and thinking it would take a year to complete the move and it only taking four months. 

Like moving to a new town where I didn't know anyone and through my new church making great friends that will last a lifetime. 

Surrender control to God. You'll be amazed at what He will do in your life if you will follow Him. 

Blessings, Cecilia